Coming out by south Asian gay men in the United Kingdom

Abstract

The process of coming out among Western gay men and women is well described. The present study is the first to explore the experiences of coming out among gay men of South Asian origin in the U.K. South Asian is defined here as originating from the Indian subcontinent. Members of a homophile organization were given a questionnaire designed to assess the experiences of coming out to family and friends and the degree of compartmentalization in their lives. Information obtained from 52 questionnaires was supplemented by detailed interviews with 9 respondents. Families and religion played important roles in the process of coming out. Sisters were most likely to be told first. Some degree of dissonance between cultural and sexual identity was noted. In addition, each step taken in revealing one's sexual orientation to friends, family, and colleagues was dictated by the strength of the relationships and the desire for intimacy. Further areas of research are highlighted.